MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — “Stars Wars” fans here shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to learn why Darth Vader chose the dark side, even though their counterparts at most U.S. bases in Japan and Okinawa beat them to the punch.

The Richard Bong Theater will offer 14 showings of “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” from June 1 through June 5, said Wayne Hansen, Army and Air Force Exchange Service Misawa general manager.

He said AAFES theaters in mainland Japan receive only a single copy of a new film, and this time, Misawa was in line behind Yokota Air Base and Camp Zama. “We have to share the one copy that we get” according to a pre-assigned schedule, said Hansen.

That schedule depends on the movie release, Hansen added.

“Sometimes Yokota will get it, sometimes we get it … so we both have a fair shake at it, really.”

Non-AAFES theaters at other U.S. military bases in mainland Japan are on a different movie distribution circuit from the AAFES theaters. Episode III opened May 19 at Yokota Air Base, the same day it opened in U.S. theaters. Zama’s first showing is Wednesday at 6 p.m. AAFES also will give away memorabilia and AAFES food coupons at each of the showings, said Jay Rogers, an AAFES food court manager at Misawa.

Show times

Misawa will show the film 14 times over five days:

June 1 at 1 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.June 2 at 1 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.June 3 at 1 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.June 4 at 1 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.June 5 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.Ticket sales

Tickets will be sold in advance at the Misawa main exchange for all shows:

May 31 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.For each show, 200 tickets will be sold at $4 per adult and $2 per child.

Tickets also will be available at the door if not sold out in advance.